Iloilo City: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has unveiled a risk resiliency initiative designed to tackle food insecurity and water scarcity across four Western Visayas provinces and Negros Occidental, now incorporated into the Negros Island Region. The project is set to receive PHP74.4 million in funding for 2024, targeting the challenges posed by climate change and disasters.

According to Philippines News Agency, Claud Jan Marquez, who leads the Disaster Response Information Management System Section, announced that the Local Adaptation to Water Access (LAWA) and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished (BINHI) project commenced in Batad, Iloilo province on April 9. The project extends to six municipalities in Antique, namely Barbaza, San Remigio, Sebaste, Sibalom, Pandan, and Culasi, with a budget of PHP21.1 million; the towns of Cuartero and Dao in Capiz with PHP3.8 million; Sibunag town in Guimaras with PHP2.4 million; and several municipalities in Iloilo, including Ajuy, Batad, Estancia, San Dionisio, Lemery, Miag-ao, Tubungan, and the component city of Passi, receiving a budget of PHP25.9 million.

Despite Negros Occidental's inclusion in the Negros Island Region, the DSWD 6 (Western Visayas) office remains responsible for overseeing the LAWA and BINHI projects within the province. Marquez emphasized the project's goals for the year, which focus on delivering proactive intervention and sustainable solutions to counteract food insecurity and water scarcity, issues that are exacerbated by the effects of climate change and natural disasters.

The initiative will engage approximately 7,750 beneficiaries from the five provinces in Cash-for-Training and Cash-for-Work activities. These activities include constructing small farm reservoirs for water catchment and setting up communal vegetable gardens. Participants will earn PHP9,600 for 20 days of work, translating to a daily wage of PHP480, enabling them to meet their basic needs.